"A Baker was convicted, yesterday, at the Public Office, Whitechapel, of making Bread, to the amount of 307 ounces, deficient in weight, and fined in the penalty of £64, 7s."--(_Times, Aug. 27, 1796._) * * * * * "A Baker was, yesterday, convicted in the penalty of £106, 5s. on 420 ounces of bread, deficient in weight."--(_Times, Aug. 30, 1796._) * * * * * "On Thursday a great deal of bread was brought before Alderman Cadell, by the Inquest of one of the City Wards, being under the regular standard of weight. The Alderman ordered the loaves to be all weighed before him, and desired the Bakers who were present, to attend to the weights. "The Bakers expressed their sorrow for it, and said it was an accident occasioned by the carelessness of their Journeymen, in suffering it to be an hour too long in the oven. They not bringing the men forward, to substantiate the defence, the Alderman told them he should fine them the full penalty, of five shillings an ounce, for all deficient; which came to above _twenty pounds_, besides the forfeiture of the bread. Mr. Kirby, the Keeper of Newgate, being present, solicited part of it, for his prisoners. Some of the Inquest likewise solicited the bread, for the poor of their ward: but the Alderman told them that half of the penalty came to them, which would compensate for the bread."--(_Times, Nov. 30, 1799._) "Forestalling" and "Regrating" were heinous sins.--They consisted in buying any thing on its way to market, before it had been exposed for public sale--and in purchasing at any market at one price, and selling it again at a higher. "In consequence of the serious enquiry making into the infamous practices of the salesmen, in Smithfield market, and the conviction of a leading man among them, for regrating, mutton, and lamb, fell 1-1/2d. per pound, in Friday, and yesterday's, market. If the Magistrates would but exert themselves, to put in force the laws against monopolizers, and forestallers, provisions would soon be at a moderate price, as we are convinced there is no _real_ scarcity: and are of opinion that the farmers and graziers, who are now holding back their corn, and cattle, will experience the fate of those, who, in the hard weather, refused to sell their potatoes under 2-1/2d. per lb., and now cannot get 1/2d. per lb., but have the well deserved prospect of being obliged to give them to the hogs, for want of a consumption."--(_Times, May 26, 1795._) * * * * *